Personal alarm device



Feb- 26, 1957 T. v. zEGARowlTz 2,782,748

PERSONAL ALARM bEvIcE Filed July 26, 19.55

United States Patent PERSONAL ALARM DEVICE Teddy V. Zegarowitz, Long Branch, N. J.

Application July 26, 1955, Serial No. 524,510

' 1 claim. (cl. 11s-.112)

This invention relates to personal defense devices and the like, and particularly to what I choose to term a rnugging preventor.

The main object of my invention is to provide the average citizen, especially women with a special alarm device for use when threatened by criminals and muggers, and even purse snatchers, in order to call attention of the public and the police to the scene.

An ancillary object of the invention is to have such an alarm or signaldevice that more specifically is a powerful whistle resembling a police whistle or other sharp signal suiciently powerful to be heard at a distance to call police and frighten off the would-be attacker.

Another object is to have such an alarm or signal device that operates automatically when once actuated and which is not subject to being silenced until it has produced a warning signal for a predetermined length of time.

It is also an object of my invention to provide such a rnugging preventor that is light and convenient to carry and convenient to use in an instant without any serious effort being required to set it off into full operation.

It is likewise an object, withal to have a rnugging preventor of the character indicated that includes a replaceable compressed air unit that furnishes the air for the whistle, encouraging the reaping of profits by the manufacturer in supplying such units.

It is a practical object of this invention to have a mugging preventor as stated that is reasonable in cost and easy to use, and as easy to renew after having been used, in order to encourage wide adoption and sale on the market.

In passing, it should be stated that invention even includes the object of being capable of modification in several ways, both in respect to the means for setting the device into action, and also in regard to the type of air operated signal means incorporated therein.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in greater detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rnugging preventor embodying the invention in a practical form, the invention being shown in actual use and being also the preferred form thereof;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the device as taken on line 2 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the compressed air unit per se of the invention, which is a single use replaceable unit;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 2, but showing the trigger of the device depressed to start the operation of the device;

Figure 5 is another fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 2 but disclosing a modification; and

2,782,748 Patented Feb. 26, 1957 Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the modification of Figure 5 when set into operation.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts, or features.

It is all too well known that crime has so increased that it is necessary to be prepared to meet it at any time; especially is this true for women, who are so easily frightened into silence by attacking criminals. The latter gentry frequently state that they should not scream, which is the first thing they fear, for any such sound would cause decent citizens to rush to help a victim or the police might even reach them in time to catch the criminal red handed. This situation presents a problem, and upon considering the same, it has occurred to me that people should have at hand some means for making a loud signal or call that at once calls attention to the scene of the crime and cannot be silenced for some time.

As a result of such consideration, I have succeeded in producing a rnugging preventor of the character intimated which will now be described in detail in the following.

Hence, in the practice of my invention, and referring lalso again to the drawing, a signal casing, generally in- A dicated at 7 consists of two opposite casing members 8 and 9 secured together by removable screws or connected by hinges (not shown) and having two main comparu ments 1t? and 11, and a front chamber 12 having an upwardly open whistle slot 13 and a triller ball 14. In the upper compartment, viewing Figure 2, is a replaceable compressed air container 15 having a forwardly projecting closed spout 16 extending into the front chamber for a purpose that will presently appear. Immediately above spout 16 is formed a special smaller slot 17 through which the lower cutting end 18 of a trigger 19 extends downwardly into effective position above the spout to shear or break off the same when the trigger is depressed. This trigger has a nger portion or toothed section 20, while the main length 21 thereof tapers rearwardly to form a leaf spring secured at the rear end by a rivet 22 to the casing so as to tend to raise the cutting end 1S out of contact with air spout 16 in normal condition. The spout extends through a hole 23 into the cutting zone for the trigger cutter 18, in such position that when the finger 24 strongly depresses the portion 20 on trigger 19, the depending cutter 18 will cut or break off the tip 25 of the spout 16 as best seen in Figure 4, when the trigger cutter will strike the stop 26 beneath spout hole 23 terminating its downward stroke. This instantly releases air from container 15 into the whistle chamber 12 beneath opening 13, causing the chamber to produce a sharp whistle which is trilled by the ball 14.

The mentioned casing may be made of plastic material, and this may also be true of container 15 and its spout, if desired, but the container may also be made of glass, metal or alloy. The main casing 7 in its lower chamber 11 has a battery or electric cell 27 having a rear spring 2S making contact with the rear end of this cell and connected by a metal strip 29 with a switch 39 and the switch in turn being connectible with the contact 31 to socket 32 and lamp 33, the center contact of the lamp at 34 being connected to the center contact 35 of cell or battery 27. The switch 30 is at the bottom of casing 7 while the trigger is at the top, the lamp controlled by the switch having the reector 36 and front lens 37 in front opening 38 of the casing.

The arrangement is such that, if -a person carrying this device is threatened, he or she needs but press the trigger 19 and at the bottom shift switch 36 to energize lamp 33, when both the whistle will sound and lamp will direct a beam of light at the terminal, which together will come as such a surprise that he will flee, especially as he will not be able to stop the whistle which keeps right on sounding until the air from container 1S is exhausted. When this container is thus used up, it should naturally be replaced by a new one having a closed spout and a full charge of compressed air.

It has been stated that the trigger 19 is operated by nger pressure to cut off or break the spout 16 to start the whistle, but it is also possible to have a different cutter for the device when it is used against purse snatchers. Then as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a straight cutter key 39 having an upper end ring 4t? threaded upon a cord or strap, which may be the purse strap, also has a spout hole 41 near its other end. When this key or cutter member is extended down through slot 17 against bottom stop 26, the hole 41 registers with hole 23 in the casing so that spout 16 projects through both holes as best seen in Figure 5. If a thief gives a sudden pull on the strap to snatch the purse involved, such a pull will be effective to pull the cutter up and out through the slot 17 so as to cut off the spout tip 25 as shown in Figure 6, releasing the air blast from the open spout 16 to sound the whistle as already described.

While the signal or sound mentioned refers to a whistle that may closely resemble the sound of a good police whistle, it is also possible to use some other form of sounding device operated by air pressure, such as a siren, if desired, as such construction would appear quite obvious upon mere mention thereof. In any event, the operation of the invention is the same and the effect will also be the same, to frighten off would be muggers and purse snatchers.

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to, and parts and features may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claim.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim;Y

A mugging preventor of the character described, iucluding a casing having a tirst chamber for a container and a second substantially circular sounding chamber beyond said rst chamber having an upwardly open whistle slot in the casing, la triller ball within said second chamber, the latter having a spout opening connecting the two chambers beneath said whistle slot but rearwardly thereof, and the casing having an additional up wardly open slot directly above said spot opening, an elongated cutter extending down through the additional slot, means for operating said cutter through said additional slot at will, a compressed air container located in the container chamber and having a closed hollow spout projecting through the spout opening into the path of cutter, said container being a replaceable single use unit, said cutter being disposed in eifective position to cut off said spout upon said cutter being moved longitu dihally of its length, said casing having a stop for said cutter within the same, a spring secured at one end upon the exterior of the casing, the other end of said spring being secured to oneend of the cutting member with a finger portion upon the junction of the spring and cutting member, said finger portion being depressible to cause the cutting member to cut olf the spout.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,386,711 Parker Oct. 9, 1945 2,468,829 LaPorta May 3, 1949 2,696,798 Jacoby Dec. 14, 1954 2,708,895 Ward May 24, 1955 

